WATCH: Congresswoman Hayes Floor Remarks
WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted for the Mental Health Matters Act to provide school-based support to address the alarming mental health crisis plaguing the nation. The comprehensive package aims to support the behavioral health of children and school staff, strengthen school-based behavioral health, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder for the school community.
The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act, led by Congresswoman Hayes, to bolster trauma support services and school based mental health care was included in the final text. The bill authorizes grant opportunities to improve the way schools address the complex needs of students coping with the devastating impact of COVID-19 and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as parental addiction, abuse, and witnessing violence.
“The mental health crisis in this country, particularly for young people has reached a tipping point. In 2020, three million teenagers reported having serious thoughts of suicide as their routines were disrupted, their families suffered, and they faced uncertain futures.” said Congresswoman Hayes. “Together, the Mental Health Matters Act and my Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act provides resources and support for students, educators, and school staff to heal and recover safely.”
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of students are not yet completely understood, yet they are expected to have long-term consequences for social and emotional well-being. Additionally, the surging opioid crisis has affected more than two million children and adolescents in the United States, tearing apart many families across Connecticut’s Fifth District.
The Supporting Trauma-Informed Education Practices Act would:
- Develop or improve prevention, screening, referral, treatment, and support services to students;
- Implement schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports or other trauma-informed models of support;
- Provide professional development to teachers, teacher assistants, school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and mental health professionals; and
- Engage with families and communities to increase child and youth trauma awareness.
More information on the Mental Health Matters Act can be found here.
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